Flatter than a Matte.

I love Matte eyeshadows. Never used to like them. In fact before I started to explore eyeshadow textures, I found them rather boring and uninspired. Three years down the line, I have grown up a whole lot and they are an essential in my kit. Most of my looks will involve a matte eyeshadow somewhere. It's one the easiest ways of adding good dimension to your eye make-up. I love finding a pigmented, non-chalky matte eyeshadow. MAC's Matte2 eyeshadows are really really good. Yaby are just as good so far. I suspect they will turn out to be better. I tried these out today and they are worth more than the £1.99 each that they cost. Don't say I didn't tell you. Don't sleep on it.

I know that there are certain colours that I naturally gravitate towards but seeing as it is Beautiful Easter Sunday today the Orange and the Red seemed appropriate. Rising sun perhaps?Here's a happy 5 minute look.

Scratching my head perhaps? Thinking of how to cut down my wish list perhaps...

I didn't use a colour base with these eyeshadows. Just some simple UDPP worked very very well. The pigment on my brushes was stupid. I think one of my 239's is stained. I got so many compliments today from this look. Everyone wanted to know how I got the orange eyeshadow to show up so well. Liz from Yaby is definitely onto something here. If it's a good quality product to start off with you don't have to work so hard in the application process.

The Lip is NYX Deep purple lip liner across the whole lip and Blackfire Glimmerglass. I could wear this colour all year. Blush involves MAC's Optimistic Orange and MyfaceCosmetics "Her name is Rio". My favourite highstreet blush. It's a pretty look.

Bed time for me. And I finally get a lie in tomorrow. Praise God!

Stay Blessed lovelies xxx

FOTD:- That Showy Reckless Woman

Today I received a little present from my lovely girlfriend Diana in Atlanta. I'd mentioned that I'd love to try some L'Oreal HIP eyeshadow duos so she posted me these two :)

Below:- Reckless and Showy

I know I am like 59 years behind the whole L'Oreal HIP explosion but for me its still so novel! Of course as a result I had to try them and see for sure what all the noise was about!

I love the colour of my bedroom wall....Gonna change it though!

Grrrrr! I'ma a Love Tiger!

Ok. So what do I think?

I think they are pretty good for drugstore. I can understand why everyone seems to love them.

However.

The pearly purple in the Reckless duo [which looks a bit like MAC's Stars and Rockets] took a lot to build up. It just kept fading. And I have no idea why! I layerd upon layered it and I'm convinced I can still see my skin through it. Not good.

I do like the fact that one side is matte and the other is shimmer. Helps to give good dimension. The dark blue from the Showy Duo worked really well in the crease and its pigmentation was nice.

So I reckon over L'Oreal Hip Duos are quite good. I suspect there may be a few dud eyeshadows in their collection somewhere but overall pretty cool!

Stay Blessed lovelies :0 xxx

ps I still wanna get a few more of these Duo's. Update on UK -US swap coming shortly :)

Barry M Dazzle Dusts

Who needs Mac when you can have Barry M? [for pigment stuff of course!]

Mac has just upped their prices to something redickulus and as a Recessionista I gotta watch my pocket but I still wanna look good. So today I'm gonna chat about an affordable make-up brand that I love.

Back in 2005 my best friend got married. I was one of her bridesmaids and I had recently discovered Specktra. I decided to go into town and get me some make-up. [I was single at the time and I had to look fly for the wedding. Bridesmaids attract nice guys! at least thats what I thought!] At this point in time for me make-up meant getting eyeshadow and foundation. Blush and mascara and eyeliners and brushes were foreign. I walked into Superdrug [this is where the addiction started] had a bit of moach and noticed that a brand that had all these brights colours. Please don't ask me why I was attracted to such bright colours without not even knowing what to do with them but it just kinda happened...

Enter Barry M.

Worse still they were holding their 3 for £10 offer so for a cash strapped student it was a blooming good deal.I ummm and ahhh for a while and picked 3 colours. Some neon pink, a lovely khaki green and a gold.

Game over.

I wore all three colours to the wedding and it actually looked ok even to this day [lucky lucky break] and the affair was born. I've since acquired a healthy collection, even bought doubles at times cause I thought I didn't have the colour only to discover it when I got home! Here is my current collection:-
I know its not the entire collection. But I probably have only 3 more that I want to get. The rest are just not worth getting in view. So I'm happy.

Why I love Barry M dazzle dust:-

1. They work really well with most primers, and even foundation on your eyelid [thats how i used to use them]
2. They show up beautifully on chocolate skin. Super pigmented.
3. These little pots are enough to last a lifetime without making you feel like they are a waste. I've given away samples and still had stacks left
4. You can sooooo totally press these pigments if you want to make them extra portable for yourself or your make-up kit
5. Uber-affordable
6. Wide range of colours
7. Now come in some matte colours

What's not to love?!?! Now admittedly there are some dubious dusts in the collection. I'm still deciding [4years later] if I like the glitter dusts. Sometimes they work for me sometimes they don't. Love/hate relationship. But overall the dazzle dusts are mint!

I could not be bothered to swatch the whole lot for you cause:-
1. I was lazy
2. CSI was about to start
3. Had to cook for Zuccherro
4. ...and I was lazy :)

SO! I've just picked out a few pots at random and swatched them so you can understand what I'm on about. No base, just me skin. Booyah!

Left to right, Top to bottom:-
No 22 Black Gold,39 Tan,53 Chocolate,92 Aqua Gold,96 Gold,77 Orange,47 Copper,73 Red,44 Bronze

No 27 Gold Iridescent,89,82 Mint Green,87 Coral,75 Lime,88 Winter Berry,23 Midnight,14 Khakhi,64 Fushia

Recessionistas and Recession dudes: Barry M is your friend. When Mac is not being serious this is great alternative!

Stay Blessed!

REVIEW: Matte Eyeshadow Grimas RB eyeshadow palette

When I first started getting into make-up, I was all about shimmer and shine. No glitter but I loved my shimmer. But as time went on and I learn more about make-up, I realised that matte eyeshadows can take your make-up to the next level. Matte eyeshadow can create an understated glamour that shiny shimmer just will not do on its own. Now incase I have't said so before, I'll say it now. I love palettes. I love them for my kit and I love them for myself. I never used to but thats because the palettes I used to see in them days were poo palettes!

I'm not a packaging person so apologies if this palette aint the prettiest one you've seen. As long as the product works I'm fine with it. The palette:

*With the lid in place*

These Grimas palettes were designed to be easy to carry around when in use on jobs. The Grimas palettes operate on a stacking system, which is pretty darn good if you have a lot of it. There are 2 trays that comes with the palette: One holds the eyeshadows in place and the other acts as a lid with a plastic sheet between the two. The eyeshadows themselves are easy to replace as they just pop out and you simply clip in the one you want into place.

*Open*
These particular palettes (A12) come with 12 colours and there are 75 matte and pearl colours to choose from. (I am yet to try the pearl range) I chose the RB palette with some custom colours switched into it. You can get many other variations which will have different colours to suit your needs.

Swatches: These were swatched dry to show you how vibrant they are. No base, just some good all brown skin!

Picture 1 with Flash
Top to Bottom, Left to Right
282: Yellow
542: Dark Red
104: Grey
543: Dark Orange
545: Bordeux
553: Orange
550: Light Orange
563:Light Brown
566: Very Dark Brown
564: Medium Brown
488: Olive Green
572: Bright Purple

Picture 2 with no flash
These eyeshadows can be used wet: mix with water or Cleansing lotion for stay fast eyeliner and they can be used as blushers too. They cost £29 for the palette from Facepaint UK which works out at about £2.42 per eyeshadow which in this current climate is a fantastic price.

Overall I love my Grimas palette. I'm planning on getting a few more of the colours. The browns in this particular palette are excellent for mid-lid blend colours on my skin tone and the brighter ones have their uses if you're wanting something bright but not shiny! They last all day on a good base and I can't fault them. The yellow is an amazing highlighter for the brow bone [it's more cream than yellow so its amazing on chocolate skin] and I find myself reaching for it more and more.

Stay Blessed!